In the beginning - January 2010

January 23, 2010 - Empire (Hollywood, CA)

Tonight we decided to go to a newly reopened club in Hollywood called Empire off of Cahuenga. The $20 cover for guys (my female friends knew one of the promoters and was able to get the girls in free) was pretty typical for a Hollywood-esque club. The venue itself was quite small. There was nothing special about the ambiance from what I can recall, and the one downside was the lack of an outside/patio area. Seriously, smokers used a seemingly non-ventilated room in the back. A nice outdoors area has become a key attribute of some of my favorite clubs, as sometimes I just want to get away from loud music. Speaking of which, the music played on this Saturday night was mostly top 40s, and the crowd was surprisingly chill. I chatted up (and vice versa) guys/girls near the restroom, bar, etc.

Highlights:

• Wow, I'm actually going out in a group where there are an equal number of guys/girls. Usually it's me and the rest are girls, but the change of pace was nice.
  
• I met a promoter for Whisper named Sam. My female friend said she was a "bitch," but she seemed friendly to me. I guess it helps being a guy if the girl is straight!
  
• My friends are awesome because if I drive, they buy me drinks all night. Or wait, is that actually a bad thing?
  
• My friend losing her cell phone and spending at least 40 minutes with my LED keychain light looking for it. We did not find said cell.
  
• The first drink was spilled on me at 11:45pm.
  
• We did not get kicked out.
  

January 22, 2010 - The Highlands (Hollywood, CA)

Well here is a place I have not been to in at least 4-6 years... And this is all for good reason. The venue is still predominantly the same. Who knew they have a back room for techno/trance? Okay, I didn't! It's a large space with a nice sized dance floor. The last time I was here, I saw Nicholas Cage. However, the crowd this evening was a completely different vibe. It was, to put it succinctly, ghetto. There are the Blvd3's, Opera's and XS' of the world, and then there are the Florentine Gardens and The Highlands of, well, another. The crowds I enjoy myself the most with are slightly classy and fun, not flannel-wearing creepy people. I will not be going back.

Highlights:

• Fun time with friends. Oh, I did get fudge with walnuts downstairs too?
  
• Watching and listening intently to an attempted pick up of one of my friends.
  
• Free admission by saying you signed up on the guest list.
  
• Pho Citi week #2 was not as good. The broth for the Rare Steak Pho was really oily.
  

January 20, 2010 - Wokcano (Santa Monica, CA)

This event/evening was to celebrate the organization CPAF (Center for the Pacific Asian Family - CPAF.info) as they sought funding to help fight against domestic violence and abuse. It was also intertwined with an Asian American group that has networking events. Fun times indeed! I ran into old friends and met a lot of new people. What I like about Wokcano in Santa Monica is the upstairs patio/bar area. And for as many times I have been to a Wokcano, I still have yet to try their food!

Highlights:

• Friendly crowd.
  
• Telling a girl her stage name sounds like a porn star's name.
  
• Meeting not one, but two pastors (one male, one female).
  

January 16, 2010 - Opera (Hollywood, CA)

I have always heard about Opera night club in Hollywood, but I had never been. I even have friends that promote for it! All I can say is, "Wow, I should have gone sooner." It ranks right up there with Blvd3 for me. The ambiance is nice. There are two main areas, and you can pretty much dance wherever you want! There is also an outside area off to the side that is enclosed by walls, but lacking a roof. The music was top 40s, and if you're in before 11:30pm, the girl:guy ratio is like 7:1 (score!). My friends actually knew the bartender, but repeated attempts at "hook-ups" did not pan out.

Highlights:

• Myself with 3 girls plus guest list = we did not have to wait in line.
  
• I had at least 8 drinks spilled on me... All courtesy of my friends.
  
• My friend falling on the floor... repeatedly.
  
• Previously mentioned falling friend getting us kicked out of the club at 12:30am.
  
• Pho at Pho Citi in Westwood, CA for my first time. It was actually pretty good!